* * *

Sarah hurriedly entered Stenia Hall. Although a suspicious person appeared, the atmosphere of enjoying the party was still ripe in the hall. It seemed that he did not explain the details to the nobles. All the gates of the Imperial Palace and all the roads leading to the outside of the Stenia Hall were blocked by the Imperial Knights, but no one noticed. There was no aristocrat who wanted to leave the party that the Emperor attended first.

‘They don’t want to let the Emperor know that the Imperial security has been breached.’

Sarah sighed in relief in a situation that was less chaotic than expected and went further inside.

“Countess Millen, I heard you went to the lounge with Young Lord Ambrosia. You’re here now.”

“You didn’t dance after the first dance, right? Would you like to dance to a song with me?”

“How was the lounge of Ambrosia? As the rumors say, is it as glamorous as the Empress’ Palace?”

The nobles who found Sarah gathered one by one and began to talk to her. It was a hassle for her as she had to find Ethan in a hurry. At that time, the Emperor, who was sitting at the top of the party hall, greeted Sarah loudly by calling her name.

“Oh, isn’t it Countess Millen?”

The Emperor’s voice was enough to silence the noisy party in an instant. Everyone’s eyes were immediately on Sarah, who was called by the Emperor.

“Your Majesty.”

Sarah moved forward with a smile on her face. With every step she took, the nobles parted like the Red Sea, paving her way. Sarah, who was able to comfortably approach the top seat thanks to the quick-witted Emperor, bent her knees to show courtesy and smiled softly.

“Sarah Millen of Millen’s family sees His Majesty the Emperor, the sun of the Crombell Empire.”

“How have you been?”

“Yes, under Your Majesty’s grace, I have been at peace.”

The Emperor was asking her with a calm face, but occasionally his gaze stayed elsewhere for a while. There, the Second Prince, the Third Prince, and Ethan were seriously talking about something with the Imperial Knights. There was a glimpse of the light of the magic stone that Sarah was familiar with among them.

“When I recognized your title, I thought the social world was going to be a little more interesting, but you disappeared right away. I’m so disappointed.”

The Emperor threw a joke with a smiling face and beckoned Sarah to come closer. The nobles, who had been pricking their ears to see whether something useful in the conversation between the two, began to enjoy the party as they had done so again at the Emperor’s gesture. To come close meant that he would not allow overhearing because they would talk about private things.

“…….That’s too much to say.”

Sarah grabbed the hem of the dress, lifted it slightly, took the courtesy, and got closer to him according to the Emperor’s will. Then, the Imperial Knights blocked the eyes of the nobles by blocking the front of Sarah and the Emperor. When it was time for the two of them to talk like that, the gentle smile disappeared from the Emperor’s face.

“Did you hear about the situation?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“The Imperial family concluded that it was a magic stone.”

“That’s right.”

As Sarah nodded heavily, the Emperor slowly leaned his back on the seat and looked at her. The heavy pressure she felt from that gaze was considerable.

“Figure it out.”

There was no high or low tone in the Emperor’s voice, but there was subtle anger in it. Someone dared to break through the security of the Crombell Empire. Realizing that the Emperor’s spirit had been firmly twisted, Sarah bowed her head and said.

“I’ll take a look.”

When Sarah actively stepped up, the Emperor seemed to be relieved. The Emperor finally asked in a soft voice with a relaxed face.

“By the way, the First Prince. Is it really impossible?”

“What?”

“Cazer, I think he’ll come to his senses with this.”

In this situation, Sara gathered her eyebrows as she watched the emperor trying to cover up the first prince.

“Your Majesty, do you really think the First Prince is fit to lead the Empire?”

“Isn’t there the Second Prince and the Third Prince? If they both change their minds and follow their older brother well, I have no worries.”

“……”

Sarah was well aware of what the Emperor dreamed of most ideally.

It was also seen in “the Future” and described in “Flower of Darkness.” When the First Prince lacked the qualities of an Emperor, the Emperor tried to raise the Second Prince and the Third Prince as assistants of the First Prince. It was for this reason that after the death of the Empress, he had a concubine to have more children. He was nervous to hand over the Crombell Empire entirely to the hands of the First Prince, so he needed blood-related vessels to help him devotedly. That concubine who was the current Empress, the Second Prince, and the Third Prince knew it as well.

“It’s a painting that will only be possible when Your Majesty is alive.”

“……Is that the case?”

The Emperor clicked his tongue in regret. He had a lingering resentment, but he seemed to have given up to some extent. Sarah just sighed quietly, looking at the Emperor who treated the Second Prince and the Third Prince as tools and no more than that.

“I have to go check out the magic stone, Your Majesty.”

“Do that.”

To the Emperor, who had several children but thought that he had only one child, Sarah bent her knees and spoke up.

“I will always keep Your Majesty’s words in mind. Thank you.”

“Haha! It’s been a long time since we’ve had a pleasant conversation, Countess Millen. Say hello to Count Millen for me.”

“Yes. Your Majesty. Father will be honored, too.”

The Emperor and Sarah Millen’s private conversation ended. The nobles then turned their gaze to that direction and their eyes lit up. The Emperor’s face seemed warm as if they had a seemingly pleasant conversation.

“His Majesty cares even though Count Millen’s family is living in seclusion.”

“Doesn’t this mean that Count Millen’s family will also open the family’s door wide again from now on?”

“His Majesty is welcome them. No matter which Prince that Ambrosia supports, there will be a family that will balance it.”

“Come to think of it, Count Millen was a neutral person. He is a person who only gives his allegiance to His Majesty.”

The nobles speculated a lot about the conversation between Sarah and the Emperor. Their gaze deepened as they watched Sarah Millen step away from the Emperor and naturally approach the place where the Second Prince, the Third Prince, and Ethan were having a conversation.

“There will be a big wind in the high society in the future.”

Someone muttered like that, and they all nodded in unison.

“Sarah.”

Ethan saw Sarah approaching this way and stopped her.

“Why are you here? I’m sure I told you to be with Claude.”

“Duke……”

“Please go back.”

“I can’t do that. I’m the one who knows most about that. Rather, Duke is the one who is in danger here.”

Ethan’s face hardened at Sarah’s words. Although he didn’t tell the princes, Ethan was also vaguely aware of what was inside that magic stone.

“How is the condition of the ring you made?”

“……It’s not good.”

Ethan looked down at the ring on his hand. Since earlier, he felt that Sarah’s power, which suppressed his power, was gradually breaking as he approached the magic stone.

“Take a look at it.”

Sarah checked the condition of the ring by grabbing Ethan’s hand and pulling it. Park Hyeyeon’s mana within the ring was quite open. It was because he consumed more mana as his physical contact with Claude became more natural.

“I can’t. I’ll just take care of that and make the artifact again.”

“……”

Ethan looked at Sarah as she touched the ring that was on his finger, then clasped his fingers around hers and squeezed them.

“Strangely, it bothers me every time you control this power.”

“Yes?”

“This power can never simply take your breath away. It’s that simple for you.”

When Sarah gave her power, Ambrosia’s power was greatly satisfied and it fell asleep as if full. As if she gave that power what it wanted. The more he allowed Sarah to control his power, the more he couldn’t shake off the thought. It was the moment when Ethan tried to give more strength to the hand he was holding.

“……Wait, the light looked strange right now–.”

At the muttering voice of Eleon, who was examining the magic stone, Sarah’s head quickly turned towards it. In her eyes, she could see the light of the magic stone flickering loudly as if stimulated by something in her.

“Heok!”

The two princes were suddenly startled by the flickering light reflected on the magic stone and dropped the magic stone. The sound of the magic stone cracking and breaking was heard. Then a dazzling light emanated. It was a light that was all too familiar to Sarah.

“……No.”

With a small muttering voice, she shook off Ethan’s hand and ran towards it. Ethan reached out again as he watched Sarah slip away from his grip. An eerie light suddenly spread like it was about to swallow Sarah.

“Sarah!”